 Collis Holloway Jr. |
 Roland Ketchens Jr. |
On January 15, 2016 at 6:54 pm, St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff’s Office deputies met with a victim of a theft. The victim told deputies that he advertised a gaming system and games for sale on a popular internet site and agreed to meet a potential purchaser in a parking lot in LaPlace. After the meeting, the victim noticed that the currency the purchaser gave him looked like US currency, but it was labeled “not legal tender, for motion picture use only, movie moneyâ€.
At 8:07 pm the same day, deputies responded to Regala Park in Reserve for the report of the theft of a 4-wheeler. The victim told deputies that he advertised a 4-wheeler for sale on a popular internet site and agreed to meet a potential purchaser at the park to inspect and test-drive the 4- wheeler. During the test drive, the potential purchaser fled on the 4- wheeler, and the driver of the car that potential purchaser arrived in followed him.
On January 19, 2016 at 9:44 pm, deputies responded to the Fire Station on Central Avenue in Reserve for the report of the theft of a 4- wheeler. The victim told deputies that he advertised a 4-wheeler for sale on a popular internet site and agreed to meet a potential purchaser at Regala Park to inspect and test-drive the 4-wheeler. The potential purchaser arrived at the park with a second person in the car. The potential purchaser handed the victim an envelope containing money in exchange for the key to the 4-wheeler for the test drive. The victim became suspicious that the money was counterfeit when he felt the texture of the bills and chased the 4-wheeler south on Airline Highway down Central Avenue before losing sight of it near the Fire Station. The bills were labeled “not legal tender, for motion picture use only, movie moneyâ€.
In all three incidents, the potential purchaser arrived to the meeting locations in a red Chevrolet Camaro. Deputies canvassed the area in Reserve, located a car matching the description of that car in the 400 block of NW 3rd Street, and found the two previously mentioned 4-wheelers that were reported stolen. Detectives located and detained four men at the apartment where the car was parked and the 4-wheelers and gaming system found.
Over the course of the investigation, detectives identified Collis Holloway Jr., 23, as a suspect in the investigation and arrested him. Detectives booked Holloway with illegal possession of stolen things. He remains in custody in lieu of a $7500 bond and a probation/parole detainer.
Detectives also identified Roland Ketchens Jr., 23, of Reserve as a suspect and obtained a judicial court ordered arrest warrant for his arrest. Detectives arrested Ketchens on January 21 and booked him with illegal possession of stolen things. He was released from custody on January 22 on a $15,000 bond.
This investigation is ongoing. Pending the outcome of the investigation, additional charges may be forthcoming. Detectives ask anyone that has been a victim of a similar incident or familiar with an incident involving “movie money†to report it to your local law enforcement agency.